April 21 , 2022 Spring Around the House The Beacon • 25
Make the most of your living space
By Tara Gracyk
The sun is shining more . The grass is looking very green . There are buds on the trees . Flowers have started popping out of the ground , and bushes that were cut in the fall have new growth . It looks like spring may actually come this year , and I do not know about you , but that excites me . As a matter of fact , it excited me so much that a couple weeks ago I started preparing my home for spring .
It was while I was cleaning and organizing my space to give it that fresh “ welcome spring ” feel that I thought we could all use some tips on how to make the most of our living space , whether our space is tiny , decently sized or large .
One way to make the most of your space is to choose furniture that has more than one purpose . Whether it is a couch that folds out into a bed or a piece of furniture that has storage space , selecting furniture with dual purposes makes it easier to have items you want and need while keeping your place clean and tidy .
Using a bench instead of a coffee table in a living room also will afford you more storage space and still give you something to prop your feet on and rest your drinks on . It could serve as extra seating too . Similarly , skirted furniture makes it impossible to see what is underneath a couch or a chair , and that makes it easy to store items under your furniture .
Speaking of storage , there are tons of ways to store items without taking up too much space and still making any room of your home look cute . For instance , securing a book shelf on top of a desk allows you to store books , baskets filled with items and other essentials above your work station . It does not take up any more space than the desk does , width wise , and it also serves as wall décor . Using tall bookshelves that extend to the ceiling or stacking bookcases on top of one another is another viable option .
Rebecca Armstrong with An Organized Journey suggests using floating shelves or hooks to make vertical space more useful . “ Use clear containers where possible . This is especially good for those prereaders to see where their toys go . It ’ s also helpful for adults in streamlining cleanup ,” she said .
Additionally , hanging a shelf between the top of a doorway and the ceiling makes it possible to store books , baskets or knick knacks or keep items away from little ones . Hanging hooks or using the over the door wreath hooks on your doors gives you the option to hang coats , jewelry , pretty decorative wreaths or signs , or even cleaning items . Really , the possibilities are endless .
Placing hooks on the inside of cabinets or using racks on cabinets also gives you the flexibility to store items , organize items , and keep things out of sight of children and guests but keep you functional in your own home .
Ladies , you can use baskets in a drawer to organize your hair ties , headbands , hair brushes , et cetera . It will help save you from having to spend so much time searching for the exact item you are looking for .
Men , the same goes for you . Using baskets in drawers can help you organize your tools or other items , making it easier for you to find them faster .
Placing a bench or having a sitting area in your entry way or near your front door makes it easier for you and your family to take your shoes off and put them on or could serve as a place for the children to place their backpacks , shoes or other necessary items . You also can maximize space and welcome spring into your home by hanging plants or placing plants on window ledges instead of on tables or counters . Adding some beautiful , fake or low-maintenance plants around your home also can brighten and lighten a room and the overall feel of your home .
Something else to consider when freshening up a home is to open space up in a room . This can be done by allowing a portion of a wall to be seen from top to bottom , thus making a room feel cleaner , fresher and more inviting . It also can make a room feel bigger . In addition , decluttering your home will likewise help open space in a room .
Rebecca Armstrong was kind enough to share a tip to help with this . She strongly encourages people to make a habit of routinely purging .
“ This prevents to-do piles from multiplying . And keep an ongoing donation box . As you tidy and purge , consider donating items . When the box is full , deliver it that day , if possible , and start another box ,” she said .
Lighting also is important when opening a room up and making it feel more fresh and inviting . It ’ s spring . Open those window blinds . Let that light in . If you have screens on your windows , raise the windows up so some fresh air can get in .
Welcome spring with open arms by making your home your sanctuary . Make your space not just functional , but also inviting for your family , your guests and you . Be creative in the process and have fun doing it .
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RECYCLE RIGHT ! Do you know about recycling right in Coshocton County ?
April 22 is Earth Day ! Celebrate by joining a local litter clean up or hold one of your own . Use two bags and separate the litter . One bag for aluminum cans and plastic bottles for recycling and the other for trash litter .
Contact Coshocton County Recycling & Litter Prevention to answer your recycling questions ! 740.575.4813
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